Yoga: A New Twist On An Old Favorite :

Think yoga is just for chicks or wimps? Think again! More and more professional and amateur athletes -- both male and female -- are incorporating yoga into their fitness regimen.

Whether you want to improve your baseball, golf, tennis or basketball game, yoga can help improve your overall state of well-being while enhancing your athletic performance.

There are at least 18 different styles of yoga available worldwide. They range from low to high intensity. Hatha yoga is the traditional form of yoga most widely known in the West. Postures are practiced to align, strengthen and promote flexibility. Breathing techniques and meditation are also commonly practiced. Some types of hatha yoga include:

Ashtanga, or power, yoga has become very popular in the United States. It’s a high energy, highly dynamic form that requires great amounts of strength and agility. Classes are very stimulating and will energize you and assist in developing full body strength, flexibility and mental focus.Bikram's yoga focuses on building lower body strength and weight loss and is performed in a heated room (generally 90 degrees or above). All postures are held anywhere from 30-60 seconds. It is energizing, develops lower body strength and flexibility and enhances weight loss.

Iyengar yoga places a strong emphasis on performing the postures correctly. Props, such as straps, blocks and pillows are commonly used and can be very helpful for the beginner. Classes are generally 90 minutes. Each class is intensely stimulating, relaxing and teaches good basics to prepare for more active forms of yoga.

Viniyoga focuses on the restorative aspects of flow through a series of postures performed in a specific sequence, which may vary from class to class depending on the theme or direction of the particular class. This is a very relaxing form of yoga.

Kripala yoga focuses on slow moving postures, breath awareness and stress reduction.

Pre-natal yoga helps prepare the expectant mother’s mind and body for giving birth and provides a supportive environment for her to take a little time for herself.

Here are 10 benefits yoga can bring to your sport (and your life!).

1. Improves flexibility

2. Improves balance

3. Increases mental focus

4. Increases strength

5. Improves your mind/body connection

6. Reduces stress

7. Improves posture

8. Increases kinesthetic awareness (where your body is in space -- think Michael Jordan)

9. Improves agility

10. Improves sportsmanship

Continue reading »